Are you ready to return to the Game of Thrones universe? Premiering Jan. 19 on HBO Max, the new series doesn’t have huge armies or fights for a throne; we are now focused on a knight trying to survive on Westeros’ muddy roads.
We talked with the series’ creator Ira Parker about the project’s artsy touch, how Dunk feels like a foreigner “lying on his résumé,” and the “friendly” tone seperating it from Got.
One of the most talked-about guests at HBO Max’s new-season launch event in London last month was Ira Parker, as that was where we first heard details about the highly anticipated new Game of Thrones universe series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. From the tone of the presentations alone, it was clear that this production is one of HBO’s crown jewels, but I can honestly say I wasn’t expecting it to this extent. Striking a strong balance between light and dark, the series manages to preserve its own distinct identity while still making you feel that it firmly belongs to the Game of Thrones universe.
Speaking at the press conference, Parker noted that the story of the series emerged naturally, without being forced, adding, “I think all of us will find a great deal of ourselves in the main character, Ser Duncan,” and it turns out he was absolutely right.
Dunk is a knight who comes from the backstreets of Westeros, from the slums of King’s Landing, trying to find his way in this strange world. He knows no one in high places and knows nothing of courtly life. As a result, all those lords, ladies, princes, kings, and queens he encounters seem slightly absurd to him, and a natural sense of comedy emerges from this contrast.
I understood much better why Ira described A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms that night as “a ramp for viewers who never watched the original series because they found it too dark” after seeing the first season. At this point, I should admit that despite its dragon-filled world, Game of Thrones was not a series I could watch comfortably due to its graphic violence. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, on the other hand, draws us into Westeros through a brighter, more welcoming path, and won me over with its sense of fun and its dialogue that delves deeply into life.
At the meeting held in Berlin just days before the premiere, excitement was fully in the air. Speaking in the city where they had gathered to host the world premiere of the highly anticipated series, Ira Parker opened his remarks by saying how thrilled he was that everyone would soon be spending a little more time in Westeros.
“This season, we’ll truly be in the dust, dirt, and mud. We’re camping,” he said and he wasn’t joking. The series really does take place almost constantly in muddy terrain.
As someone who genuinely enjoyed the new series, I wanted to ask him what sets this production apart from the others. I should say upfront that I really liked the show, especially its creative side, which is extraordinary. The dance performances and puppet shows give it a highly artistic approach. Beyond the power struggles, witnessing everyday village life and moments of entertainment immediately drew me into the series. At the same time, when I announced on social media that I had started watching the show, my readers and friends began asking similar questions about this series set in the GoT universe:
“Are there dragons? Is it bloody? Is there sexual content?” I think audiences will be a bit surprised by this more “grounded” approach. I was curious about his thoughts on deliberately subverting those expectations.
Look, we never really set out with the deliberate intention of ‘subverting expectations.’ The truth is, we focused on making a faithful adaptation of the original novellas. That was our first and most important goal. These stories begin with a somewhat lighter tone. The current storyline doesn’t require the level of intense sexuality seen in the main series or in House of the Dragon.
That doesn’t mean it will never happen, but for now it’s simply not a major part of Dunk’s journey, though, like any virgin, he would probably very much like it to be. As for brutality and blood, they are on the way. If viewers wait for episodes four and five, they’ll see the kind of harshness they expect from a typical Game of Thrones season.”
The nighttime tournament sequence in the episodes he mentioned is truly worth watching. I’m dying to go into detail, but I really shouldn’t.
From the very beginning of the project, they placed great importance on giving the story a realistic, gritty, and grounded feel. They wanted audiences to experience Westeros in a way that allows them to sit within it and connect it to their own everyday lives, to set out on the journey alongside Dunk and in that sense, the series is highly successful at pulling you in. In particular, the friendship between former rugby player Peter Claffey (Dunk) in the lead role and Dexter Sol Ansell (Egg) as his squire offers a distinctly fresh dynamic.
And if you’re wondering what the story of our main character Dunk is, I asked Ira Parker that question before heading over to join the rest of the cast at the press conference.
Dunk’s story goes something like this: he takes on a job that’s beyond his capacity. In a way, he lies on his résumé and gets the position, but now he actually has to do the job and figure out how to survive it. At times it’s frightening, at times extremely harsh; and there are moments when he gets beaten up and thinks, ‘Why did I ever say yes to this? I should go home!’ Whether Dunk can endure all of this is, I think, the central question of the season.
Westeros’ “Cutest” New Duo Dunk and Egg: Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell – Exclusive Interview
‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Knights and Princes Tell All – Exclusive Interview
